Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...The May Warner Archive Collection has announced its May Blu-ray lineup. Titles will include POSSESSED (1931), FOLLOW ME QUIETLY (1949), and a Monogram Matinee Volume 3 set featuring two films starring Johnny Mack Brown. Another May Warner Archive title of great interest is the release of IT'S A WISE CHILD (1931), starring Marion Davies, which I was unable to see last fall when it was shown at Cinecon.

...A 75th anniversary restoration of Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951) will be out on May 5th, shortly after premiering at the TCM Classic Film Festival; unfortunately for those of us not collecting 4K high-definition releases, it is only being sold on 4K, packaged with a Blu-ray. The Digital Bits site says "The Blu-ray in the package appears to be the exact same disc released in 2011 for the 60th anniversary." Since I already own that disc, it appears this release won't be for me, but perhaps this information will benefit 4K collectors.

...Here's a Los Angeles Magazine article by Chris Nichols on Leonard and Jessie Maltin and their new book, FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT MENUS: RECIPES AND FILMS FOR UNFORGETTABLE TIMES TOGETHER.

...Coming next month from the University Press of Kentucky: RICHARD FLEISCHER: JOURNEYMAN by Jason A. Ney, with a foreword by Eddie Muller. This should be a very interesting read for many reasons, including Fleischer's family history in animation and his work in film noir and for Disney.

...The three surviving members of the CHARLIE'S ANGELS (1976-81) TV series, Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Cheryl Ladd, were recently reunited and interviewed.

...Recent reviews by Jessica Pickens at Comet Over Hollywood include THAT POWERS GIRL (1943) with George Murphy, Anne Shirley, and Carole Landis, and UP IN CENTRAL PARK (1948) with Deanna Durbin and Dick Haymes. I completely agree with Jessica's comment that Deanna is "great in every film."

...Speaking of Deanna Durbin, her terrific film THREE SMART GIRLS (1936) is coming to Blu-ray in May. Thanks to Adam for the info.

...And thanks also to Keith Buczak for alerting me to the upcoming book THE WONDERFUL WORLDS OF DISNEY: THE SCENIC ART OF WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS by Didier Ghez. It will be published by Chronicle Books in late September.

...I'm a fan of Jason Statham action films, most recently SHELTER (2026); here's the trailer for his next film, MUTINY (2026), due out in August. It's directed by Jean-Francois Richet, who also directed the very good PLANE (2023), which starred Gerard Butler.

...I always enjoy perusing the latest films viewed at Phyllis Loves Classic Movies. She's watched some favorites of mine recently!

...Coming to Blu-ray soon from Kino Lorber Studio Classics: THE ATOMIC MAN (1955), also known as TIMESLIP, starring Gene Nelson and Faith Domergue.

...Attention Southern Californians: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951) will screen at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana on April 18th...There's a remarkable series of rare films directed by William Beaudine currently ongoing at the New Beverly...and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN will be shown in 35mm at UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater on Sunday, April 12th.

...Please note that Around the Blogosphere This Week not appear next weekend, on April 18th, when I'll be traveling. The column will return on April 25th and then will be off two additional weekends while I attend back-to-back film festivals.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my April 4th column.

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Tonight's Movie: The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The Christmas classic THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER (1942) has just been released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

Monty Woolley repeats his Broadway role as Sheridan Whiteside, a world-famous raconteur and radio host who finds himself spending an extended time in the Ohio home of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley (Grant Mitchell and Billie Burke) after he slips and falls in an accident.

Whiteside is an obnoxious houseguest who terrifies his nurse (Mary Wickes, also from the Broadway cast) while hosting a succession of visitors (Ann Sheridan, Reginald Gardiner, and Jimmy Durante), not to mention a crateful of penguins -- and an octopus!

Bette Davis plays Whiteside's secretary Maggie, who tolerates his childish tantrums, seeming to understand the mostly hidden positive aspects of his character, until he finally exasperates even her when he tries to break up her budding romance with a local newspaperman (Richard Travis).

This is a very entertaining film, though Woolley's Whiteside is sometimes a bit hard to take, particularly early in the film when he is simply terrible to everyone around him.

That said, the movie gradually picks up speed, becoming funnier and more engaging as it goes. Part of the credit for that goes to Gardiner, Sheridan, and Durante, who are all wonderful as Whiteside's friends.

Sheridan as a mercenary actress is hilarious, especially when she's alternating cooing and barking orders over the phone, and I've always loved the jovial Gardiner in this, wishing he had a larger role.

Another reason the movie becomes more likeable is viewers are gradually allowed to see a more human side of Whiteside, who is so kind to the servants (Edwin Stanley and Betty Roadman) that they jump at the chance to work for him when he poaches them from the Stanleys.

Once Whiteside realizes how badly he's hurt Maggie, he sets about to make things right, while also trying to encourage the Stanleys' children June and Richard (Elisabeth Fraser and Russell Arms) to pursue their hearts' desires; June wants to marry handsome Sandy (a young Charles Drake).

This is a quiet role for Davis, albeit in a funny movie; she almost seems miscast, but when she launches into Whiteside for his childish behavior it's quite a satisfying moment which makes one glad she's in the film. Travis is pleasant, if rather bland, as her beau.

Character performances don't come any better than Grant Mitchell and Billie Burke as the Stanleys; they're hilarious, as well as a bit touching. Burke's reaction to receiving a call from Eleanor Roosevelt near the end of the movie is particularly delightful.

The extensive cast also includes George Barbier, John Ridgely, Ruth Vivian, and Nanette Vallon.

The screenplay for this 112-minute film was by Julius J. Epstein from the stage play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

The movie was directed by William Keighley, with black and white cinematography by Tony Gaudio.

The Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray print is from a 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. As with most Warner Archive Blu-rays, the print is outstanding, with a fine soundtrack.

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER comes with an impressive package of extras, including the trailer (which has glimpses of scenes not in the film); the featurette THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER: INSIDE A CLASSIC COMEDY (from the 2006 DVD release); a cartoon, THE WABBIT WHO CAME TO SUPPER (1942); the short GLEN GRAY AND THE CASA LOMA ORCHESTRA (1942), directed by Jean Negulesco, and two radio productions.

The Lux Radio Theater production, from March 1950, stars Clifton Webb and Lucille Ball along with well-known radio performers Eleanor Audley and Betty Lou Gerson. The December 1949 Hotpoint Holiday Hour radio show stars an incredible cast: Jack Benny, Charles Boyer, Rosalind Russell, Gene Kelly, Dorothy McGuire, and Gregory Peck.

For additional thoughts on THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, please visit my 2011 review.

Both THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER and the Warner Archive Collection Blu-ray are recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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TCM Announces 2026 Festival Schedule

Today Turner Classic Movies announced the complete list of films and the schedule for the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival.

The festival takes place in Hollywood from April 30th through May 3rd, 2026.

I'll have my annual rundown on the schedule, including my personal picks, a little later in the month, though between the current Noir City Hollywood Festival and upcoming traveling I'm not yet certain when I'll have it completed.

In the meantime I'm posting the above links for anyone interested.

The most significant announcement today was the completely unexpected but very welcome news that, at long last, Warner Bros. has cleared all the rights issues for LETTY LYNTON (1934).

LETTY LYNTON has not been publicly screened in nearly a century, and hopes for Warner Bros. to clear the rights nearly 15 years ago came to naught.

Now the rights problems are behind us and the movie has been restored; it will be introduced by George Feltenstein of the Warner Archive Collection, along with star Joan Crawford's grandson Casey LaLonde.

This is incredible news, and the movie will surely be the talk of the festival. Can a Blu-ray be far behind? Let's hope.

I'll save other comments on the schedule for my next festival post. For now, a couple other brief notes:

First, if anyone missed it in last weekend's news roundup, Glenn Close will be honored with a handprint/footprint ceremony at the festival.

Second, if anyone would like to purchase merchandise ahead of the festival, it's currently available from Fandango.

Update: Casey LaLonde has explained that the movie rights were freed when the play at the center of the dispute went into the public domain as of January 1, 2026.

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Easter Blessings

Very best wishes for a happy Easter Sunday!

Here's lovely Arlene Dahl celebrating in a pair of cute studio holiday portraits.

Have a blessed Easter!

Previous Easter Photos: Jane Powell, Anita Louise, Doris Day, Jean Peters, Janet Leigh, Joan Caulfield, Rita Hayworth, Ann Blyth, Ida Lupino, Laraine Day, Marjorie Reynolds, Margaret O'Brien, and Deanna Durbin.

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Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just issued a single-title Blu-ray release of MAIGRET SEES RED (1963), starring Jean Gabin. Now there's even better news: MAIGRET SEES RED will also be part of a three-film Inspector Maigret Collection releasing on Blu-ray this June. the other titles in the set will be MAIGRET SETS A TRAP (1958) and MAIGRET AND THE ST. FIACRE CASE (1959). Can't wait! At the rate I'm going, Gabin may end up being my most-viewed actor this year.

...CineSavant Glenn Erickson has reviewed the new Universal Blu-ray release THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1938 (1938), starring Bob Hope and a large cast, and the "Director's Cut" of THE PUPPETOON MOVIE (1987). I'm quite a fan of Puppetoons and own an earlier release of THE PUPPETOON MOVIE, which I recommend.

...Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced that TILL WE MEET AGAIN (1944), starring Ray Milland and Barbara Britton, is "coming soon" to Blu-ray.

...Coming in November from Disney Editions Deluxe: THE ART AND HISTORY OF DISNEY TOYS by Alex Miller.

...A title I missed last fall, from Alicia Malone of Turner Classic Movies: FILM FASHION ICONS: A DECK AND GUIDEBOOK OF STYLE INSPIRATION FROM CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD. It's a boxed set with both a book and a deck of cards.

...Just out from Columbia University Press: HOW FILM BECAME HISTORY: THE RISE OF THE ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY IN 1930S AMERICA by Thomas Doherty.

...Ryan Coogler's production company is working on a Disney+ TV series based on the ANIMORPHS fantasy books, which were very popular with a couple of my kids when they were young.

...The Los Angeles Conservancy has published the schedule for this year's Last Remaining Seats movie series in Downtown Los Angeles.

...Turner Classic Movies has announced that actress Glenn Close will be honored with a footprint/handprint ceremony at the upcoming TCM Classic Film Festival.

...April 4th is the birthday of lovely Rosemary Lane of the Lane Sisters.  Please visit my tribute for many wonderful photos and movie review links.

 

...Notable Passings: Actress Mary Beth Hurt has died at 79. She's survived by her husband, Paul Schrader...Actor and dialogue coach Robert Hinkle has passed on at 95. In addition to numerous small roles in feature and TV Westerns, Hinkle coached Rock Hudson on speaking with a Texas accent for GIANT (1956). His Western roles included a pair of Joel McCrea films, THE FIRST TEXAN (1956) and THE OKLAHOMAN (1957).

...I'm spending much of this weekend and next at the Noir City Hollywood Festival, so the blog may be a bit quieter than usual over the next few days! We'll see if I have time to pop in for some reviews. Here's a Variety interview on the fest with hosts Eddie Muller and Alan K. Rode.

...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please visit my March 28th column.

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TCM in April: Highlights

April is a big month for Turner Classic Movies, as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival begins in Hollywood on April 30th.

And leading up to that, there's a great month ahead on TCM, with Sophia Loren as the April Star of the Month.

Loren's films will be shown on Monday evenings beginning April 6th.

17 of Loren's films will be shown, along with her LIVE FROM THE TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL (2016) interview. It's hard to believe it's been over a decade since I saw her introduce MARRIAGE ITALIAN STYLE (1964) at the festival.

The April Noir Alley films will be T-MEN (1948) on the 4th and 5th, BAD BLONDE (1953) on the 11th and 12th, HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951) April 18th-19th, and 711 OCEAN DRIVE (1950) on April 25th and 26th. All three of the films I've reviewed are very worthwhile; 711 OCEAN DRIVE is seen here on location in Palm Springs. BAD BLONDE is a TCM premiere.

Below are a few more of this month's highlights. Please click any hyperlinked title to read an extended review.

...One more great day of George Brent films on April 1st leads into an evening celebrating Doris Day, including one of my all-time favorite Day films, CALAMITY JANE (1953).  Day and Howard Keel are well matched, and it has a wonderfully bouncy score.  And coincidentally, I saw it at the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival the very same day I saw Sophia Loren.

...There's a great lineup of minor World War II spy films on April 2nd, including titles like SECRET ENEMIES (1942), ACTION IN ARABIA (1944), BACKGROUND TO DANGER (1943), ABOVE SUSPICION (1943), and ASSIGNMENT IN BRITTANY (1943). I couldn't resist listing several of the day's films; all have great casts and are highly watchable.

...A prime time tribute to Roger Corman on April 3rd includes the Western FIVE GUNS WEST (1955) starring John Lund and Dorothy Malone. I've never seen it, and it sounds like my kind of movie!

...The varied lineup on April 4th includes a very enjoyable Jane Powell musical, LUXURY LINER (1948), costarring George Brent. A fun bit of trivia is that Brent also starred in an related 1933 film with the very same name.

...TCM can happily be counted on to show EASTER PARADE (1948) on Easter Sunday, and this year is no exception!

...Only on TCM: Monday, April 6th, will feature seven of MGM's Andy Hardy movie series. Mickey Rooney's leading ladies in these films include Kathryn Grayson and Bonita Granville.

...April 7th features Leonard and Jessie Maltin's new book, FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT MENUS, and some of the movies in the book, including MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944).

...I really like IMPACT (1949), which stars Ella Raines and Brian Donlevy, airing on April 8th as part of a day of murder mysteries.

...More mysteries are afoot on April 9th, including one of my very favorite "comfort watches," GREEN FOR DANGER (1946). It's a marvelous film, set at a British country hospital during WWII, and has been enjoyed by me many times over the years. Alastair Sim leads a marvelous cast.

...The Musical Matinee on April 11th is MGM's KISMET (1955), starring Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, and Vic Damone. It's a film I've very much come to appreciate over the years.

...Margaret Lockwood is THE WICKED LADY (1945) on April 12th. James Mason and Patricia Roc costar.

...April 13th features one of my favorite little-known musicals, PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE (1951), starring Virginia Mayo, Dennis Morgan, and Gene Nelson. When I first saw it I termed it "a delightful surprise."

...There's a memorial tribute to June Lockhart on April 14th. It includes SON OF LASSIE (1945), MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), and ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN TOO (1940). I had the pleasure of seeing the latter film at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival. It's a wonderful costume melodrama, with June as Charles Boyer's oldest daughter.

...April 15th features films from the Brass Bancroft series starring Ronald Reagan, the Nancy Drew series starring Bonita Granville, and the Gildersleeve series starring Harold Peary. A very fun day of 11 short movies. My four Bass Bancroft reviews may be found here (scroll to the end of the review for links to reviews of the others in the series).

...A day of movies about twins on April 16th includes identical twins Lyn and Lee Wilde in the fun TWICE BLESSED (1945).

...April 18th includes Bogart and Bacall in TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944), which I'll be seeing theatrically at this month's Noir City Hollywood Festival, and EXPERIMENT PERILOUS (1944) with Hedy Lamarr and George Brent, which I saw at the 2010 festival. Time flies!

...TCM features the channel's premieres of three Blondie films on April 19th: LIFE WITH BLONDIE (1945), BLONDIE'S LUCKY DAY (19460, and BLONDIE IN THE DOUGH (1947).

...Who could turn down an evening of Kay Francis movies? There are seven of them on April 21st, including the fun MAN WANTED (1932) and the moving melodrama GIVE ME YOUR HEART (1936), the latter of which costars Francis's frequent leading man, George Brent.

...We go from Kay Francis on the 21st to another favorite, Claire Trevor, on April 22nd. Eight Trevor films will be shown, including several all-time classics, including BORN TO KILL (1947) and STAGECOACH (1939).

...The excellent director Frank Borzage worked with Kay Francis and George Brent on LIVING ON VELVET (1935), which airs April 23rd.

...The Paramount Pictures comedy MURDER, HE SAYS (1945) receives a fairly rare TCM showing on Saturday, April 25th. This film starring Fred MacMurray, Helen Walker, and Marjorie Main isn't a favorite of mine, but I know many people are fans, so I wanted to mention it given that it's rarely seen on TCM.

...GIRL SHY (1924), starring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston, is probably my favorite of the many Harold Lloyd films I've enjoyed. Do watch it! It's on late on April 26th.

...THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946), with Judy Garland and a marvelous cast, never fails to entertain. It's part of a day of MGM musicals with Western settings on April 27th.

...One of my favorite minor '40s crime movies, CRIMINAL COURT (1946), is on April 29th. It stars Tom Conway and Martha O'Driscoll, directed by Robert Wise.

...April wraps up on April 30th with a birthday tribute to Eve Arden, including the classic STAGE DOOR (1937), where Arden is memorable as a boarding house resident who's frequently seen in the company of a white cat.

For more on TCM in April 2026, please visit my Quick Preview of TCM in April and TCM's online schedule.

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Tonight's Movie: It All Came True (1940) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The Runyonesque Warner Bros. comedy-drama IT ALL CAME TRUE (1940) will be released on Blu-ray this week by the Warner Archive Collection.

Humphrey Bogart stars as gangster Chips Maguire, who has just shot someone and needs a place to hide out.

The place he finds is a boarding house owned by the mother (Jessie Busley) of a pianist Chips employs, Tommy Taylor (Jeffrey Lynn).

Chips goes stir crazy not being able to leave the house, but the lovely presence of Tommy's lifelong friend Sarah Jane (Ann Sheridan) brightens things up.

Before he knows what's happened to him, Chips (now known as "Mr. Grasselli") is adopted by the wacky boarding house residents; they befriend him, and in turn he changes their lives for the better.

The movie would have been equally well titled as "Angel in Disguise," one of the movie's songs. Although he's definitely a killer, Chips also proves to have a soft side as he deals with his elderly "neighbors." He's of particular help finding a way to keep the boarding house from being lost to unpaid taxes: He turns it into an exclusive nightclub!

The movie's tone reminded me a bit of a Bogart film from just a couple years later, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT (1942), in which a bunch of good-hearted gangsters battle the Nazis.

Both these early '40s Bogart films were distinguised by stellar supporting casts; the faces in IT ALL CAME TRUE include Zasu Pitts, Una O'Connor, Grant Mitchell, Felix Bressart, Howard Hickman, and John Litel.

While I wouldn't call IT ALL CAME TRUE a classic, it proved to be an enjoyable 97 minutes. Although I think some of the sequences with the boarding house folks "entertaining" went on too long, it was a good-natured, pleasant film which I enjoyed seeing for the first time. It was a nice way to while away a Sunday afternoon.

IT ALL CAME TRUE's screenplay was written by Michael Fessier and Lawrence Kimble from the novel BETTER THAN LIFE by Louis Bromfield; writer and future director Delmer Daves contributed to treatment.

The movie was directed by Lewis Seiler and filmed in black and white by Ernie Haller.

The Warner Archive print is from a 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. It looks and sounds great.

Fairly minimal extras consist of the trailer plus a pair of cartoons, CIRCUS TODAY (1940) and THE SOUR PUSS (1940).

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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Tonight's Movie: The Johnstown Flood (1926) at Cinecon

Everything I saw at the Cinecon Pop-Up Day earlier this month was worthwhile, but I especially enjoyed THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD (1926).

It was a 66-minute silent film which deftly melded drama with disaster, including impressive special effects by Jack Smith.

The restored print, with beautiful color tints, had live accompaniment by Jon Mirsalis, making for an outstanding viewing experience.

The movie teamed favorite George O'Brien with Janet Gaynor, a year ahead of their all-time classic SUNRISE (1927). The movie also starred charming Florence Gilbert.

O'Brien plays Tom O'Day, an engineer at a logging camp in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Tom warns the logging camp's owner, John Hamilton (Anders Randolf), that the dam is likely to flood once the rains come. This causes conflict with his employer, which is especially awkward as Tom loves Hamilton's niece and ward, Gloria (Gilbert).

While Tom loves Gloria, Anna (Gaynor), daughter of a logging camp employee (Paul Panzer), pines for Tom from afar.

On Tom and Gloria's wedding day, a sudden cloudburst signals the start of unprecedented disaster...

THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD was a well-constructed, well-performed film which I liked a great deal.

O'Brien and Gilbert are a lovely, likeable couple, while Gaynor milks the pathos as only she can, mooning over the man who is not destined to be hers. 

I've seen O'Brien and Gaynor in a significant number of films but am not sure I'd previously seen Gilbert in anything. I liked her very much and was interested to learn she was once married to TARZAN author Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I had been a bit nervous that the flood sequence would be disturbing, but while it's certainly very dramatic, I didn't find it difficult to watch. I was also fascinated by the unusual use of huge capital letters on the narrative cards to convey urgency: "THE DAM! RUN!"

Look for a very young Carole Lombard as one of Gloria's friends. Clark Gable and Gary Cooper are said to have had bit parts, but I didn't spot them.

THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD was directed by Irving Cummings from a story by Edfrid A. Bingham and Robert Lord. It was filmed by George Schneiderman. The film utilized Northern California locations including Soquel, Santa Cruz, Groveland, and Yosemite.

The restored print is available on Blu-ray.

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Tonight's Movie: Artists and Models (1937) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

Earlier this month I very much enjoyed Jack Benny in the comedy MAN ABOUT TOWN (1939), which is part of a new two-film set of Paramount Pictures films from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Alas, I cannot say I felt the same about the other movie in the set, ARTISTS AND MODELS (1937).

ARTISTS AND MODELS is a confusing, nearly plotless mishmash in which Benny plays Mac Brewster. Mac's struggling ad agency will be rescued by a new account in which he finds the "Townsend Girl" to advertise silver for a company owned by wealthy Alan Townsend (Richard Arlen).

The new "Townsend Girl" will also be featured as queen at an Artists and Models Ball.

Paula Sewell (Ida Lupino) and Cynthia Wentworth (Gail Patrick) are both competing to be the Townsend Girl, and somehow they also each end up engaged to Mac...while Alan loves Paula.

That's pretty much the plot, such as it is. What makes the movie hard to follow is an endless stream of disconnected musical numbers performed by the likes of Judy Canova, Ben Blue, and Connee Boswell (billed Connie).

The songs are simply dropped into the middle of the story in rather bizarre ways. They don't advance the action or, in some cases, appear as part of a show performance. An opening number is particularly annoying as it provides no understanding of the plot and essentially delays the start of the movie. It makes one wonder who at the studio was watching the footage and thought they were turning out a good film.

The one really good number, "Public Melody Number One," features Martha Raye and Louis Armstrong. Raye performs in blackface, as was common in the era, but otherwise the number stands out as quite stylishly presented. I gasped "No wonder!" upon learning that this lone number was staged by the great Vincente Minnelli.

Otherwise the beautiful Patrick is quite cute in her pursuit of Benny, and they're charming together, but despite a great cast that's about all there is to the movie. It's a rather long 97 minutes.

ARTISTS AND MODELS was directed by Raoul Walsh, which I found rather fascinating. It was filmed in black and white by Victor Milner. There were too many screenplay contributors to name.

The Kino Lorber Blu-ray print is from a new HD master from a 2K scan of the 35mm fine grain. It looks excellent, with good sound quality.

Extras consist of a commentary track by Eddy Von Mueller; the trailer, newly mastered in 2K; and the nine-film trailer gallery previously mentioned in my review of MAN ABOUT TOWN.

As always, I'm glad to have the chance to see even an iffy movie in the best condition possible and appreciate Kino Lorber making it possible.

I recommend getting this collection for MAN ABOUT TOWN, which I thought was quite fun, and perhaps simply considering that ARTISTS AND MODELS is an extra. If nothing else, it's worth seeing for Louis Armstrong and the early work of one of the great musical directors, Vincente Minnelli.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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Tonight's Movie: Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (1954)

In recent months I've been very much enjoying French film noir and crime films, mainly due to new releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

I've been meaning to catch up with TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI (1954), roughly translated as DON'T TOUCH THE LOOT, for a number of years, and happily it's also available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.  I purchased this disc some time ago and am very glad I did.

I first became aware of this film when it was co-introduced on Turner Classic Movies in 2012 by my late friend Gina Neylon, also known by her online handle as Moira Finnie. At that time I wasn't particularly interested in foreign films, but that has happily changed over the years and my viewing has widened considerably.

I've become a great admirer of the French heist film RIFIFI (1955), and I saw some parallels between that movie and TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI, which came out a year ahead of RIFIFI.

Each film travels a path from the mundane and quiet -- very literally, in terms of RIFIFI's heist sequence -- to a woman learning critical information which in turn leads to a violent, gripping climax.

In TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI Max (Jean Gabin) and his longtime friend and partner in crime Riton (Rene Dary) have pulled off a major gold heist, but this only becomes clear to slowly. Max and Riton were so successful not even their friends know they were behind the job.

While waiting for things to calm down so they can unload their loot, Max and Riton spend time in a restaurant frequented by gangsters, run by Madame Bouche (Denise Clair), and while away time with showgirls (Dora Doll and Jeanne Moreau); in Max's case, he also has a glamous slightly older mistress (Marilyn Bufferd) waiting in the wings.

That said, Max and Riton are getting on in years; Max is ready to retire and lead a more relaxed life, and he's also concerned for his friend, having learned Riton's mistress Josy (Moreau) is unfaithful.

Josy picks up the info that Max and Riton are sitting on something big, prompting gangster Angelo (Lino Ventura) to kidnap Riton, calculating that Max is so loyal to Riton that he will trade his ill-gotten stash for his friend...

This is almost a "gangster procedural," spending much of the film focused on things such as how to stash loot, keep a safe house, and fence ill-gotten goods. Then suddenly it shifts gears into a literally explosive finale using weapons stashed away since the Occupation.

Having now seen him in several films, I've been trying to put my finger on what makes Jean Gabin so interesting. His looks are fairly ordinary and he's anything but flamboyant, yet he commands attention. There's a certain confidence to his performances, especially here, including the sense that his characters know a great deal and have deep inner thoughts. In fact, we're actually exposed to Max's thinking late in this film, as he philosophically contemplates the trouble his dear friend has caused.

Gabin's Max is admirable in many ways, particularly in his loyalty to his friends. I enjoyed watching the way he helps and guides the younger Marco (Michel Jourdan), paying his restaurant tab, finding him work, then inviting him along on mission to reclaim Riton, with the warning it will be a rough job.

At the same time, Max and friends are uncouth and disrespectful with women of a "certain kind." A particular "grabby" moment Max engages in backstage at a nightclub was rather shocking, given that we would never see anything like it in a U.S. film of this era. On the other hand, the older ladies of Max's circle, who have proven their worth, receive his trust and appreciation.

The entire cast is outstanding, with Ventura's double-crossing gangster and Moreau's beautiful, sassy (and drug-addicted) Josy making particularly strong impressions.

TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI is engaging for all of its 96 minutes. (As a side note, Kino Lorber's box has a typo indicated the film is 86 minutes.)

TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI was directed by Jacques Becker. It was filmed in black and white by Pierre Montazel and looks absolutely beautiful.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray has a commentary track by Nick Pinkerton along with a couple of interviews, the trailer, and a gallery for five additional trailers for other films available form Kino Lorber.

TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI is a film I will definitely be returning to in the future. Very much recommended.

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